Urgent Call for Accountability: The Targeting of Healthcare Workers & the Annihilation of Northern Gaza
The protection of HCWs in genocide zones is enshrined in international law. Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions, the Fourth Geneva Convention & Additional Protocol I protect medical personnel. The Rome Statute criminalizes such acts as war crimes. Despite these legal safeguards, Israel’s actions in Gaza have violated these provisions with over 1,065 HCWs murdered, 350 taken hostage & 5 tortured to death by Israel.
Historical precedents for prosecuting crimes against HCWs include the Nuremberg Trials and ICTY & ICTR convictions for targeting medical staff in Bosnia and Rwanda. Yet the ICC has failed to investigate. Cases like the 2015 bombing of the MSF hospital in Kunduz & attacks on MSF facilities in Yemen show ongoing targeting of HCWs but legal accountability remains lacking.
Israel’s repeated breaches of IHL reveal the gap between legal protections & their enforcement. Israel’s strategy, as outlined by General Eilad, aims at the annihilation of Northern Gaza culminating in the destruction of Kamal Adwan Hospital. This obliteration marked a turning point in the ethnic cleansing of Northern Gaza. Now Israel is targeting Al-Awda & Indonesian Hospitals with the same ferocity. Despite overwhelming evidence of genocidal crimes, no robust international action has been taken against Israel, its fugitive PM, its corrupt ministries & medical agencies for targeting HCWs & infrastructure in Gaza.
The international community must invoke the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) doctrine compelling intervention to prevent further violations. The United Nations, through the ICC & the UNHRC, must ensure that these crimes are fully investigated, criminals held accountable and reparations made to the victims & their families. All HCW hostages must be released & attacks on hospitals must stop to prevent further violations of IHL.
Main Source: @healthcareworkerswatch
Tribute: @dr.hussam73 & all the HCWs of Gaza
CC: @dr.ghassan.as, @francesca.albanese.unsr.opt, @drtlaleng, @drmadsgilbert, @un_ocha, @icjpalestine, @sovereign.icj.icc
